Jazz for aficionados
Jazz for aficionados
I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.
Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.
The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".
"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.
While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.
Enjoy the music.
I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.
Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.
The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".
"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.
While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.
Enjoy the music.
31,750 responses Add your response
frogman, Great links. I really dig Cannonball and Sam Jones is another outstanding bass players from that era. The following features Percy Heath on bass, also from that era and also outstanding. Milt Jackson shines on this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDnIQ1JPcCU |
Hey, no apology necessary; it is in fact on the Sam Jones reissue and is a Sam Jones tune. There’s often a lot of ambiguity and cinflicting info re recording dates and reissues; always surprises me. What a great player Sam Jones was; truly one of the greats. And great composer! Two of his best known tunes: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vAdE3pLlMFQ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rJuEk0J-7Mc Unusual in jazz, along with Ron Carter, he was also a fine cellist: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mX4RhGL7zqA |
Fabulous, acman3. Billy Higgins!!!!!! Anyone who doesn’t like drum solos should listen to that. I asked myself, “why would Cedar Walton be announcing the tunes when it’s a Sam Jones date?”. That tune, as you know, was a bonus track on the CD reissue from an earlier Cedar Walton trio record. Interesting. The original lp. One of my all time favorite bands. A very young Bob Berg; what a loss. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JF9gsXC9IeE Btw, I think you lowered Rok’s blood pressure several points with that post; nicely done 😉 |
Inna, here's some jazz you might like if you don't already have it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAxdTSc_fts |
Inna, "Like a cosmic wind" is a good description. This is the first time to my knowledge that I ever heard a "duduk"; it sounds like the Arabian desert to me, although it’s Armenian. It fits the very definition of "haunting". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYmAzwQPfdY |
One of my all time favorites Rok. Stays in rotation for years and years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUkxSaRNVDk |
orpheus10, this is very far from any jazz, but listen to this simple instrument. It's like a cosmic wind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5V3y04oHhY |
Nice little recording with very good playing. We discussed Chris Potter about a year ago, but glad to see him come back around. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enpa3A0dmd4 |
Orpheus10, Your quote: "He makes old music; be bop, hard bop, sound new again; his is a voice in jazz that's making it's mark" on Chris Potter hits the nail on the head! This is an excellent live album I would recommend: https://www.amazon.com/Follow-Red-Line-Village-Vanguard/dp/B000SNUNR4/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8... |
frogman, I have Larry Willis' Inner Crisis album and yes, he can get funky. He is one of those relatively unknown musicians that plays on hundreds of albums and a multitude of genres. He plays them all exceptionally well. The gig at Smoke starts on the 19th (Friday). That is the night I'm going. First show. |
Chris Potter is new to me, I think; the reason I added "I think" is because I have CD's of many people he has played with; but at any rate this is the first time I have been distinctly aware of him. He makes old music; be bop, hard bop, sound new again; his is a voice in jazz that's making it's mark, I will add him to my collection. So much music, so little time. |
Another great who recently passed. RIP. Note the trumpet solo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOkFcGlUZko |
Another Larry Willis (and Fort Apache Band) fan here. Thanks for the links and heads up about the 10/20 gig, pjw; I just may check it out myself. One very funky dude: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ovMrlJroXcY |
nsp, Thanks for the links. I just ordered that Mingus CD. That one song is worth the price (4 bucks)! Also ordered that Shelly Manne CD based on that one song which is jazz swinging at its best. Manne's symbol work shines on that tune! I have been following Jeremy Pelt for over a decade now and I like everything he does. Try the new 2018 live Paris CD. https://www.amazon.com/b?node=1065840&pf_rd_p=5daf2e21-f605-4d7b-b689-ccf96a665347&pf_rd_s=d... I posted a song off it upthread (last Pelt link). Its a beautiful ballad. Here is another from the same CD more uptempo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3PgMcBSvRM |
pjw I can't believe hoe the price of John Park's lp "if Winter Comes " has gone up in price. All cuts posted by frogman by Park are from that lp. Ip has a nice closely miked warm sound from all players and of course John shines on his solos. I was wondering if there are recordings with Park from his time with S Kenton . I saw some credits listed on Allmusic.com link so I may have to research that. I have one J Pelt cd "Soul" and intend to get others.Any recommendations? I have been a fan of Larry Willis for quite a while . Those cuts are all new to me though. I will post some from him when I have time. That concert sounds like it will be a good one. |
mary_jo, without a doubt, this is one of your best submissions; it conjures up memories of my youth. There were "greasy spoons" as opposed to fast food burgers, and that's where I went for hamburgers and chili; these establishments had a jukebox of course; Wurlitzer with all the colors of the rainbow spinning around. The first thing I did, after ordering, was put a quarter in the jukebox to hear something like what you submitted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_c-fueLOgg |
Going next month to this gig: https://www.americantowns.com/event/larry-willis-and-the-heavy-blue-band-2017-10-20-new-york-ny.html Larry Willis is a superb pianist, acoustic or electric, and a devotee of Herbie Hancock. Willis played with some of the great jazz musicians in the 60's including Stan Getz, Kai Winding, Lee Morgan and Jackie McLean. In the 70's he played with the pop/rock band Blood Sweat and Tears and in the 80's played some of the greatest afro/Cuban jazz with trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band. Jeremy Pelt is one of the best trumpet players of the last 15 years or so constantly composing, recording albums, and touring. I have seen "The Talented Mr. Pelt" numerous times but never Mr. Willis. I'm counting the days. Larry Willis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEce-qFnrXQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBVRBq4CrMk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFsBe-jXc0 Jeremy Pelt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOczigm0_2g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlspBGB0Lhw (check out Jeremy 3 minutes into this blowing the trumpet through electronic tone altering circuits) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtMEpm-Q8WU |
Excellent! Pretty good faking by Newman (actual tenor by the great Paul Gonsalves): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UKGev0mYlvc |
Armstrong, Paul Newman and Ellington.... https://scontent.fzag1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40684034_1098070446984755_6878215693037207552_n.jpg?... |
Thanks frogman for those links. Man that cat could play a sax! I don’t have a vinyl collection but if I was into vinyl I would shell out the money and buy that. Well worth it. I guess they never pressed a CD of it. Stan Getz wrote about Park: "John was in possession of an inordinate amount of technique and excellent sound, and most important - SOUL" Liner notes from the John Park LP "If Winter Comes:" http://www.searanchimageshost.com/stankenton/jpark.htm |
Today is just a Saxophone kind of day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSqHZy3JbH4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsqVhWDmoiE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhwTv9M8 Cheers |
pjw, did you see this?: https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/4193584?ev=rb In the meantime: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U1Pj9-3DDTc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CSxRz1JjhYc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=czW55U8-3mY https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iQO4n9pXWYM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MqAwBq5wtlk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vxDJQKFEtVs Beautiful alto player! |
Inna, you confused me, and you were confused by the picture on the album cover; Ray Nance is a guy; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Nance Nevertheless, you have observed something, very few aficionados are aware of. |
I have not seen anyone post the great Chris Potter playing on this thread since I started participating so I though I would throw this spectacular live clip out there. Dave Holland doing his thing behind Chris never stops smiling! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gqgdE4qZGg |
I'm glad you liked that Rok. There is something special about some hometown artists that I can't put into words; I guess it's because they were born drinking the same Mississippi river water, and eating the same food, that enables them to better communicate with me, but whatever it is, I really like Mardra, and Reggie Thomas. |
Never seen anything like that. But he is an old master, he can afford playing popular song in a restaurant, or whatever this place is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ1SaCHoakk |